Re: Re: ASK Dan Geller (psychiatrist) - Sandy

[Guest guest]

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Sounds like the school/behaviorist have no idea what they are doing. Being

that the behaviorist works with speced population, she should know that

'control' needs are often a result of anxiety and cognitive

rigidity....neither of which can be managed by 'extinction' strategies of

ignoring and letting the child tough it out.

My ds became very rigid in the Fall when he started have troubling

completing work due to poor stamina. After a while, the staff started

referring to him as 'obstinate'. Yes, on the surface you could call it

stubborn...he would not start assignments if he felt that he didn't have the

'perfect' idea, was not readily open to suggestions, etc. But his anxiety

and cognitive rigidity were the driving forces, rather than pure

'willfullness' to not listen or have it his way. That's a huge distinction

which is essential to behavior management. This occurred with staff who

understood that ds was struggling and really cared about him, but even they

fell into that thought pattern.

Cognitive rigidity is neurologically based...wired into the brain, sort of

like a learning disability, rather than a 'learned' behavior like

'obstinance' or 'controlling'. It shows up in neuropsych testing....a kid

will have difficulty changing brain gears, and that makes him prone to

'getting stuck' on details or wanting things to be a certain way.

Is the district providing homeschooling for your son? They are so far off

base that you have a very good case for showing that they are not educating

your child appropriately. Does he have an IEP? My ds has had an IEP since

preschool, even though he never had significant learning problems...his

anxiety creates socioemotional deficits which make it impossible for him to

be educated without an IEP. This provides a child with much

protection.....the school, for instance, should have had a plan for your ds

BEFORE his return to school, esp after a psychiatrist stated that school had

become an emotionally unsafe place for him.

Fay

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> > My 7-yr old son was out of school for 2 months at the suggestion of his

> psychiatrist with purposes of stabilizing meds and removing him from the

> extreme anxiety environment. He's on celexa and zyprexa. Has been receiving

> cbt/exposure response and has not been willing to listen. He still has his

> contamination thoughts and rituals. The school behavioralist observed him

> today and told me that he is not a germaphobic - and that it was totally a

> control issue - inferring that ocd was not the issue. She told me to ignore

> his pleas (as we were leaving the building) to sanitize my hands after

> touching the school doors and his backpack. (I've been there before and know

> the panic and out of control agitation my son has). I did ignore his demands

> and he got so out of control when we got to the car when I tried to buckle

> him in because he wanted me to wipe my hands off. (in his mind I then

> contaminated the seatbelt, car seat, etc). He became very agitated and

> physical and when we finally got home, he frantically started his rituals of

> removing his clothes and washing and became very aggressive with me to get

> my coat (that was contaminated) into the washer. I told him that in no way

> was he to try to hurt me or anyone - not acceptable behavior, loss of

> privilege ... (he replied he didn't care - he was going to keep trying to

> hurt me until I washed my hands and coat). My son did share with me that the

> school was telling him today that he did not have to wash things off and

> that he had to stop what he was doing. Too much anxiety - returning to

> school and is the school properly handling this. Any input would be

> sincerely appreciated. thanks - Sandy

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